Camera shutter and film actuating mechanism



Dec. 19, 1950 P. s. ALLEN CAMERA SHUTTER AND FILM ACTUATING MECHANISM sshets-sheet 1 Filed June 20. 1947 INVENToR. 99 lizu 7'7'OAQNEV Dec. 19,1950 P. S. ALLEN CAMERA SHUTTER AND FILM ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed June20, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 n@ 97 Il Dec. 19, 1950 P. s. ALLEN CAMERASHUTTER AND FILM ACTUATlNG MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 20,1947 l,111111,1111111111111111111111111111111111111/Ill/1115rl/lIl11l11r11/l[lll/111111111111 Patented Dec. 19, 1 950 AND 'FILM,ACTUTING ISM mail) Long Beach, Calif.

Ap nlligcaton .June 20 1 The present invention -ielates to automaticphotographic appamtus in general and particularly to a Vcerniera -guni-tfor incorpora-,tion therein.

More specifica'Hy the #invention comprises aselfcontained 4amion'iat'iccamera, -unit adapted to eX- pose sequentiaiiy a piuraiity of frames ofTil-m.

lFully automatic vpl'rotographie apparatus Qf the type -in which alperson 'unskilled Jin 'the photographic arts can, by the insertion of acoin, take and `effect 'the Ideveloprnenr, of- 'fhis own picture andhave it -deliveredtp 'himself n-a short time period `has becomepopuiarandwvidely used. Such a'device is disclosedvinmy earlierlPatent'gg-w',granted July '.3'1 ,*"'194j5. This ,type 4apparatns usually employs apredetermined scguel'lee `of op erations *foiiowing the insertion of thecoin iby the operator. Frequently the apparatus -is mounted in a lsmallbooth in which xthe operator is pro- :vded with a stool or othersuit-able searI and in which he poses `himself for the picture. 1Uponfthe insertion .of the coin, or the yoperation of other suitablemeansJthe operation is started, the necessary illuminating "lights fiashon, the `film is exposed, and the picture taken. ',In certain irri--4proved embodiments a plurality of frames of dim are 'exposed serially,.an adeguate time period being given to the operator Ato readiust:posi-A tion :if desired between frames, or, preferred, eachl Wpictureis taken 'upon lthe actuation :of a control means., the initial paymententitling wthe operator 'to a `fixed -m-imber vof exposures. Followingexposure of *the nal Atrarne the exposed ftlms vtaken from the-car-neraproper and, -while still Within the 'automatic apparatus, Uistreated successively in various 'solutions to -e1tectitsde ve'iopment`into Ithe -na1 pictures `which are then, following va :drying operationin some instances, deliveredtotheoperator.

The -preser r t invention relates -to :amtomatic lBti11anot1fierobjectfcfthe mventiomisltofpr f 1947, `Serial No. 755,849

(Cl. 38e-18.3)

.2 vide a `new and improved driving means lfor the im and for the camerashutter t0 insure their and -Astiil further obieot of the invention =istolpro' vide simpliied lm-anwshutter-aotuating mech-- anism in anautomatic camera actuated by a.

ingle power source.

These and other more specific objects wiil appea-r uponreadingthe#foliowing specieationland claims and upon consider-ing inconinecftionthere#v with the attached drawings -to which they vlrelate.Referring now to the `drawing-S,in which a pre-f -erred embodiment ofthe invention Qis 'illustreoel: `Figure-i is a rsectitrn through anautomatic photographic apparatus incorporating a camera unitconstructedin accordance with the present invention shown positioned therein in topl elevation;

Figure 2 is a Abottom View of the carnera'iurrt illustrated in ,Figure.1, the .bottom wail thereof boing removed:

3-13 of Figure '15 'Figure .4 is .e transverse1.1911,fioritalso@tionlook-` ing ,downwardly .upon the broken .line i1-4of;

.Figure .5 vis a 'view ne vertloalgplano lloolirig .iii the direction.of the arrows .upon ,the oraison lille .5-.5 .O I" Figure .4;

'Figure 6 is a section upon the verticaldne tri- .6T

of .Eigure A35 meansiortIie-fllmstrip; .rieure -8 'fis transversesection noon the lino 8.-?13 v.of ,Eigene v.2, ythrough the @bomber .ofthe;

switch.

.The @more unit :constructed .aooonoleeof with :the ,present inventionis .adapted ,to lov eme-,- bodied :.111 an automatic ,ehotograehio-argoaratus of the general type disclosed in my earleryatept2,380,3.753- The .erlolosisrieaoosofor body-.of pfrontiwalrl t2."The:latterincludesiaipiyotedDaniel:

H.V provided .with ,a :plurality .of .translucent mini-1 operation inthe proper tmewphase relatienshpf- Figure `3 is .a .vertical .sectionupon .the plano" Figure .7 .is .a transverse .section .upon thehun f1.-.-1 .of ,Figure .6 .and .illustrates .rollen-.propellingfFiguresQ-ise top -viwof thesienal light o ootol titoioael-f dows I4through which are adapted to pass light rays from lamps I8 positioned inthe rear thereof.

Camera unit I8 is mounted upon a transverse supporting platform or shelfmember Il and is seen to comprise an enclosing casing having side WallsI8 and I9, top and bottom walls 2| and 22, respectively, and end walls23 and 24, the latter being pivoted at 28 so as to provide an entranceinto the interior of the unit. Unit I8 is so located on platform I'Ithat an aperture 28 in its side wall I8 is positioned in alignment withthe small end of a converging light passageway 29 carried by the casingpanel I3. Preferably a suitable light seal 32 is provided around themargins of opening 28 in order to prevent admittance of undesired light.

Opening 28 is open at all times but light rays from the exterior throughpassageway 29 cannot gain admittance to the interior of unit I8 byvirtue of the presence of a rotary shutter 34 mounted fxedly upon arotatable shaft 36 and positioned within a circular recess 39 formed inthe side wall I8. The shutter is made of an opaque material such asmetal, but is provided with a cut-out arcuate sector 4I' positioned asto move past opening 28 upon shutter rotation to admit light. The periodof time exposure will, of course, be dependent upon the speed ofrotation of shaft 36.

A light conducting tunnel 48 is positioned within the casing of unit I8,its open end in alignment with Opening 28 and so with passageway 29. Theinner end of tunnel 48 is provided with a refiecting surface 42 whichfunctions to re-direct admitted light rays at'right angles through anopen side into a lens passageway 43 in which is positioned a lens 44.Beyond lens 44 is a housing or chamber 46 which, adjacent its end wall4l, is provided with upper' and lower slots 48 and 49, respectively,adapted to function as guides for the film F which moves therethrough aswill be explained. Y

Film F is carried in roll form within a magazine 58 in which it isrotatably mounted upon al transverse shaft `52. The casing of magazine58 is provided with transversely extending shoulders 53 which rest uponthe marginal edges of a rectangular opening 54 in the unit top wall 2|and are so positioned that a portion of the magazine extends below thewall 2|. a. suitable seal 56 is provided around the marginal edge ofopening 54 to prevent the entrance of undesired light.

Within unit I8 and directly above the slotted end of chamber 46 magazine5I is provided with f a slot 58, and the iilm strip extends downwardlytherethrough to pass between the propelling rollers 6| and 62 and thenthrough slots 48 and 49'.' From the latter the film passes downwardlythrough a discharge port 64, formed in the supporting base 66 of housing46 and in the wall 22 and adjacent supporting platform I1. Film F isadvanced relative to the camera proper, as represented by the interiorof housing 46, by the rotation of rollers 6| and 62 as will bedescribed.

' According to the present invention shutter 34 andfilm-propellingrollers 6I and 62 receive their actuating force from a single electricalmotor 69, suitably mounted upon end wall 23 and the shaft 1| of whichcarries a sprocket 12. A continuous chain 13 extends from sprocket 12 toa second sprocket 14 fixed upon a, shaft 'I6 rotatable in bearings insidewall I9 and in an intermediate longitudinally extending wall TI. Acir- Preferably cular disc 19 is also affixed to shaft 16 and car-i riesan axially extended pin 8|. Disc I8 and the pin 8| carried thereby makeone complete revolution of 360 degrees with each revolution of theircarrying shaft 16.

To rotate shutter 34 a Geneva gear 83 is xedly mounted upon a shaft 84with its four radially extending slots 86 positioned as to receivesequentially upon rotation the pin 8| `of disc '|9. Shaft 84, in themanner of shaft "16, is rotatably supported in bearings in sidewall I3and in intermediate wall ll, and is provided adjacent the former with axed gear 6l in mesh with a pinion 88, fixed upon shaft 36 which carriesshutter 34,

The relationship of disc I9 and its pin 8| to Geneva gear 83 is suchthat each complete revolution of the disc and pin results in therotation of Geneva gear 83 and its carrying shaft 84 through an angle of90 degrees, that is, through a one-quarter revolution. The ratio of gear8l to pinion 88, however, is such that each onequarter revolution of thegear effects a complete revolution of 360 degrees of the pinion and soof the shaft 36 and the shutter 34 carried thereby.

To actua-te the film-propelling rollers a second Geneva gear 9| isprovided positioned upon the diametrically opposite side of shaft i6from shaft 84. Its shaft 92 is also mounted in the sidewall I9 and thetransverse central wall "Il, and its radially extending slots 93 are sopositioned as to receive the pin 6I carried by disc 'I9 in the samemanner as do the slots 86 of Geneva gear 83. Shaft 92 carries a gear 94in mesh with a pinion 96 fixed to the same shaft 91 carrying" roller 6I.Shaft 9'| is also rotatably mounted in the sidewalls I8 and I9 of thecasing. The second film-propelling roller 62 is fixed to a parallelshaft 98 and the two shafts 91 and 98 are connected for equal speedrotation in opposite directions by a pair of gears 99 and I8I.

It is desirable that certain lights illuminate the subject at the timeshutter 34 moves as to expose the film and this is accomplished byproviding a'cam |83 upon the shutter-carrying shaft 36. Cam |83 ispositioned as to cooperate with an actuating lever |84 of a switch |86connected in any suitable manner in the circuit of the lights which maybe the lights I6 previously referred to.

llt is also desirable, after the predetermined number of frames of filmshavebeen exposed.4

that the nlm be cut in order that the exposed portion may be treatedsuitably as to develop itV into pictures by means such as thosedisclosed in my prior patent. To accomplish the cutting operation a,knife blade is slidably mounted in a pair of channelled members |81secured below chamber 46. The edge of blade |85 adjacent discharge port64 is sharpened and the blade is adapted to move through the normalplane of the film to sever it under the actuation of means which includea lever arm |88 pivoted at |89 adjacent wall I8, and connected by pinIII to the blade. At its outer end lever |88 is connected to thearmature |I3 of an electricall anima T?. indicate Lito :the operator*the stime @periods ad: which the lsl'roluid :rearrange :for fthepicture. Yfllhese #indications mayczbe given the-'flashing :of :suitablerl-igltts, meaning mf .which `Ihe :shasbeen Auniformed:by a suitable:set e of. instructions 'flhe exact dona-tion. :of v:these indicatinglights .'n'ot fof the '.tessence; buttheir .operation -'can .belcontrolled xby iconne'c'ting .them

cordancezwith thepresent invention is believed to .5

tions .himself -before ra funit closed Ain my earlier Patent l positsj'his coin -in .the ,provided niet. Under :the control of adistributorcontrolling,the operation of the entire deviceincludingithecamera unit to which the present invention particularly are-Iateethenriit `motors!) will lter/energized.. iDepending upon `thetime-relationship desired, the energization of motor 69 can becontinuous or discontinuous. Its rotation, however, effects the rotationof the pin-carrying disc 19 as described.

Each rotation of disc I9 in turn effects a ,quarter turn of Geneva gears83 and 9| connected, respectively, to the shutter and tc the filmpropelling means. Assuming disc 19 to be positioned initially asillustrated in Figure 5, its rotation in the direction of the arrowwould effect first the quarter turn of Geneva gear 83 and its connectedshaft 84. Pin 8| would enter the awaiting slot 86 of Geneva gear 83,whereupon that gear would be rotated a quarter turn, resulting asdescribed, in the complete rotation of shutter 34. During the movementof slot 4| of shutter 3d past the open end of tunnel light rays carryingthe image of the operator would be conveyed to the film F, beingdeflected by the mirror surface 42 through the ylens 44. tThe passage ofthe shutter opening 4| beyond the tunnel 40 precludes the furtherentrance of light rays into the camera proper. The continued rotation ofdisc 19 carries pin 8| from the slot of Geneva gear 83 into engagementwith an awaiting slot 93 of Geneva gear 9| to effect a quarter turnthereof by its return to its initial position. This quarter turn ofGeneva gear 9| causes, through the described connections, the downwardadvance of film F by the concurrent action of rollers 6| and 62, theroll of films within magazine 5| turning upon shaft 52 to permit of thefilm movement. During this movement of the film the shutter 34 preventsthe entrance of light into the camera proper and the interior of unit isat all times maintained in darkness or semi-darkness.

The continued or subsequent rotation of the disc 19 effects the repeatedsequential rotations of Geneva gears 83 and 9| and so the sequentialoperations of the shutter and of the film-moving means. Assuming thatfour pictures comprise a complete cycle, the mechanism illustrated inFigure 5 will be returned, following the taking of the fourth lpicture,and its projection through the discharge port 64, to the relationship asi1- lustrated. Thereafter, and under the control of any suitable meanswhich could comprise a dis- -a series -zo'f `zst'eps 5to produce 6ltributor, "the knife .2106 l'would be actuated :by

solenoid 212| 4 :and Vthe film tenuti-.immediately :be-

low .chamber 46, .whereupon vthe vexposed :film.wouldiberemovediautomaticallyrand subjected to .the completed :pic-

turesi Y hile :the particular :apparatus 'herein :shown and desc'ribed.indetailis :fully capahleiofzattaining '.the robj'ect's Y'andv.providing the :advantages hereinbef'ore::stated,.litis .to beunderstood that it is but illustrative of the presently:preferredembodimerfts of A.the Ainvention, .and .that .it .is 4not.intended ztog'li-mitthe sjc'ope of the invention to fthe details @ofreconstruction or design :herein disclosed, other thanms :'setforth in...the-'appended claims.

.21. fan-.automatic photograph-ic apparatus-for .taking :a .series .ofpictures in a .sequence on ra sensitized trip of .lmof the type.including film- .exposing means rcomprising a. passageway .forimage-carrying :light trays .and .sa Arotatable .shutter Ltointercept:said rays, lmesupplying fm'ea-ns comprising al'filmmagazine, guides .todirect said film into .position `to .intercept said rays, zandroller-:propelling Vmeans ifor .said film; means lato actuateisaidshutter and fsaid propelling -Lmeans sequentially comprising .fa.driving motor, a .shaft rotated `:by :said motor, ya pair vzof 'Genevagears spaced arcuately `around said ishaft, vmeans .carriedbyisaidzzshaft .to actuate saidegears sequentially through an arcofrotation less than 360 degrees, a f1rst and second gear rotatable withsaid Geneva gears, a first pinion engaging said first gear and rotatablethrough an arc of 360 degrees upon its rotation through said lesser arc,a second pinion engaging said second gear, said shutter being directlyconnected to said rst pinion for rotation therewith and said propellingmeans being connected to said second pinion for operation thereby.

2. The structure recited by claim l characterized in that saidpropelling means includes a roller and in that its circumferentialtravel under the actuation of said second pinion effects a displacementof film through said passageway equal to the size of picture to lbetaken.

3. The structure recited by claim l characterized in that saidpropelling means comprises a pair of film-engaging rollers positionedbetween said magazine and said passageway and sufficiently close to thelatter as to push the said film therein and therethrough, said rollersbeing connected to said second pinion for rotation therewith and havinga diameter such that their circumferential travel upon the rotation ofsaid second pinion is sufficient to displace a full picture framethrough said passageway.

4. In an automatic photographic apparatus for A taking a series ofpictures in a sequence on a sensitized strip of lm of the type includingiilmexposing means comprising a passageway for image-carrying light raysand a rotatable shutter to intercept said rays, film-supplying meanscomprising a film magazine, guides to direct said flhn into position tointercept said rays, and rollerpropelling means for said film; means toactuate said shutter and said propelling means sequentially comprising adriving motor, a driven shaft, means including a chain and sprocketsconnecting said driven shaft to said motor, a disc fixed to said drivenshaft, an axially extended pin fixed to said disc, a pair of shaftsextended parallel to said driven shaft, a Geneva gear fixed to each ofsaid shafts and positioned as to be engaged by said pin upon therotation of said driven shaft and to effect the rotation of theirconnected shafts through an arc of 90 degrees upon each such engagement,means including gears connecting one of said Geneva gears to saidshutter, said gear having a ratio such that said shutter is rotatedthrough 360 degrees upon each 90 degree rotation of the connected Genevagear, and means including gear means connecting the other of said Genevagears to said propelling means.

5. In an automatic photographic apparatus for taking a series ofpictures in a sequence on a sensitized strip of film of the typeincluding filmexposing means comprising a passageway for image-carryinglight rays and a rotatable shutter to intercept said rays, nlm-supplyingmeans comprising a film magazine, guides to direct said film intoposition to intercept said rays, and rollerpropelling means for said lm;means to actuate said shutter and said propelling means sequen tiallycomprising a driving motor, a driven shaft, means including a chain andsprockets connecting said driven shaft to said motor, a disc xed to saiddriven shaft, an axially extended pin fixed to said disc, a pair ofshafts extended parallel to said driven shaft, a Geneva gear fixed toeach of said shafts and positioned as to be engaged by said pin upon therotation of said driven shaft and to effect the rotation of theirconnected shafts through an arc of 90 degrees upon each such engagement,means including gears con- 8 necting one of said Geneva gears to saidroller-f propelling means, the ratio of said gears andthe diameter ofsaid roller-propelling means being related as to effect the advance of asingle picture frame through said passageway upon the rotation of saidone Geneva gear through degrees, and means to rotate said shutterthrough 360 degrees upon the rotation of the other of said Geneva gears..i

PHILD S. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

